Electrical & Power Systems Engineer

Our Client: A confidential, early-stage U.S. space company developing modular autonomous space stations

Focus Areas: EPS, RF Communications & SWIS Electrical Architecture

Sponsorship: U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident required (ITAR-controlled environment)

The Company

Our client is an early-stage U.S. space company developing modular autonomous space stations. Headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area, they are building a lean, highly skilled engineering team. This is an opportunity to join a company reimagining how spacecraft and space systems are designed, deployed, and operated — at the frontier of the industry.

The Team

Our client's engineering team is highly skilled and mission-driven. This hire will be one of the first engineers on the team, working directly with the CTO and Chief Engineer. At this stage, the role will not come with a narrow task list. After the closure of the company's next funding round, this person will be in charge of managing a team of engineers and specialists across the following domains:
Electrical Power architecture and RF/Communication Systems.

Your Role

This is a triple-domain engineering role. The candidate will serve as the technical lead for both the Electrical Power System and the RF/Communications system, and as Program Manager for critical IP assets.

Electrical Power System (EPS)

• Develop and maintain the system-level power budget across all mission phases (orbit, eclipse, contingency, peak demand)
• Design the core bus EPS: solar array sizing, battery selection and management, power distribution architecture (PCDU)
• Define solar panel accommodation approach including attitude trade-offs with power generation
• Lead design and development of the power transfer subsystem
• Select and qualify EPS components: solar cells, batteries, PCDUs; define EPS ICDs and V&V test plans
• Interface with the mechanical/thermal engineer for battery and solar panel thermal management

RF & Communications

• Design and develop the core bus communication system (S-band and/or UHF TC/TM link to ground)
• Perform link budget analysis for all communication modes: nominal, LEOP, and contingency
• Lead design and development of the interface data communication subsystem — intra-spacecraft wireless data link between bus and payload modules
• Define the security architecture for the satellite communications chain
• Design the satellite electrical architecture: power distribution, harness routing, and EMC/EMI management
• Coordinate with the ground segment on antenna patterns, frequency coordination, and regulatory licensing (ITU/FCC)
• Support AIT for EPS and RF systems: functional testing, battery conditioning, link testing, and solar array deployment
• Use simulation tools to validate communications system performance, electrical architecture, and electromagnetic compatibility: RF and antenna modelling in Ansys HFSS or CST Microwave Studio, EMC/EMI analysis in Ansys EMC Plus, power system simulation in MATLAB/Simulink or PSIM, and link budget verification tools (STK Communications or equivalent)

Your Qualifications

Required

• M.S. or B.S. in Electrical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering
• 7+ years of experience spanning both spacecraft EPS design and RF/communications systems
• Experience sizing solar arrays and battery systems for LEO spacecraft and performing power budget analysis
• Demonstrated experience performing link budget analysis for space-to-ground communication links
• Familiarity with space communication standards (CCSDS, DVB-S2, or equivalent)
• Knowledge of PCDU architecture, battery charge/discharge management, and EMC/EMI design practices
• U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident

Preferred

• Experience with wireless power transfer technology (inductive or resonant coupling)
• Experience with wireless intra-spacecraft or short-range RF link design
• Knowledge of COMSEC or cryptographic systems for space applications
• Familiarity with FCC/ITU frequency coordination processes
• Experience with spacecraft-level electrical and RF testing
• Experience with Ansys HFSS for 3D full-wave electromagnetic simulation: antenna design and characterisation, waveguide and connector modelling, and near/far-field radiation pattern analysis for spacecraft RF systems
• Experience with Ansys EMC Plus (or equivalent such as CST Studio Suite) for system-level EMC/EMI analysis: conducted and radiated emission modelling, shielding effectiveness, and cable harness coupling assessment on spacecraft electrical architectures
• Familiarity with power electronics simulation tools (PSIM, PLECS, or MATLAB/Simulink Power Systems Toolbox) for EPS and PCDU modelling; experience with STK Communications module or equivalent for link budget and antenna coverage validation

The Person We're Looking For

Someone comfortable moving between a power budget spreadsheet and an RF link budget in the same week. Someone who understands that on a small team, the electrical and communications domains are deeply intertwined. A self-starter who thrives in fast-paced environments.

• Base salary: Competitive with…